The Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance leads efforts to stimulate economic growth in the Dickinson County region of the Upper Peninsula.
The Alliance operates as a 501(c)(6) organization, with 80 percent of its funding sourced from private-sector employers. It adopts a business-first strategy in economic development and advocacy programs, aiming to create a supportive environment for businesses of all sizes.
The organization works to strengthen the Dickinson County area as a desirable location for business, living, and employment. This is achieved through collaboration with four specialized task force groups, each composed of subject matter experts from investor businesses.
Government Relations & Advocacy Task Force
This group focuses on advocating for the business community by building relationships with elected officials and government agencies. It works to enhance the area’s natural and civic resources while improving overall quality of life.
In 2024, the task force organized a legislative reception at the Pine Mountain Continental Cup tournament, which attracted 60 attendees. It also conducted visits to legislators and department leaders in Lansing, co-hosted a roundtable on changes to paid sick leave, wage laws, and exempt salary thresholds with the Small Business Retention and Growth Task Force, and arranged a tour of the Ford Airport for elected officials, city managers, and board members.
Infrastructure & Housing Development Task Force
This group aims to improve access to infrastructure data and promote new development opportunities by collaborating with regional and state government entities to plan better infrastructure and housing solutions.
In 2024, the task force collaborated with local and state officials on several projects, including the City of Kingsford’s water main and service line replacement in the Kingsford Heights neighborhood, MDOT’s Carpenter Avenue reconstruction from Hamilton Avenue to Woodward Avenue, and the City of Iron Mountain’s Great Lakes and Energy Grant to identify lead-contaminated water lines. It also worked on identifying lead-containing water service lines in Norway and Breitung Township. Additionally, it led advocacy efforts for new housing development tools such as the MSHDA Mi Neighborhood Program, MEDC Developer Tools, Tax Increment Financing, and the Build U.P. fund through InvestUP.
Talent Retention & Attraction Task Force
This group focuses on recruiting, retaining, and growing the workforce needed by local employers. It raises awareness of career paths through partnerships with local school districts, the DIISD Tech Center, and Bay College Iron Mountain Campus to build a stronger talent pipeline for investor businesses.
In 2024, the task force published a Career & Technical Education magazine to highlight educational and career options for students. It recognized area seniors pursuing skilled trades careers through the CTE Graduate Recognition Program, hosted 300 ninth-grade students for Manufacturing Day at Bay College Iron Mountain Campus, and planned the first-ever Healthcare Career Day for February 2025 for tenth-grade students interested in healthcare careers.
Small Business Retention & Growth Task Force
This group promotes and supports small businesses through awareness campaigns, advocacy, and training sessions to help them overcome challenges.
In 2024, the task force hosted a Small Business HR Panel to address hiring concerns, co-hosted educational webinars with SBDC and the Dickinson Chamber, and raised awareness of the new Central UP Small Business Support Hub navigator. It also managed the Loyal to Local program, which saw over 80 participants in its seventh year. The program sponsored the Entrepreneur of the Year for Lemonade Day and Out to Lunch, expanded its business directory, and launched a new blog and newsletter.
These accomplishments were made possible by 96 volunteers who contributed an estimated 795 hours of service to support the Alliance’s mission.
“These numbers are significant in that they demonstrate the enthusiasm and commitment to the continued economic progress we see in the Dickinson Area,” said Mindy Meyers, executive director of The Alliance.
Looking ahead into 2025 and beyond, the Alliance will focus on:
— Raising awareness of housing solutions through state programs to encourage new development,
— Promoting land bank and Brownfield opportunities for developers,
— Collaborating with local schools to highlight regional career opportunities,
— Providing educational resources for small businesses,
— Promoting the area’s quality of life through the Belong initiative,
— Enhancing outdoor recreation offerings.
The Alliance is governed by a board of directors made up of representatives from investor businesses, each of whom serves on at least one task force to contribute their expertise.
For more information on how to get involved with The Alliance, visit daeda.org.
— news from ironmountaindailynews.com
— News Original —
Task force groups focus on key economic development issues
The Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance is the leader in stimulating economic development in the Dickinson County area of the Upper Peninsula.
The Alliance is a 501(c)(6) organization, with 80% of its funding coming from private-sector employers. We take a business-first approach to economic development and advocacy programs that cultivate a business-friendly environment to support businesses of all sizes.
We work to make the Dickinson County area a robust community in which to do business, live, and work. We do this by collaborating with four key task force groups comprised of subject matter experts from our investor businesses.
Government Relations & Advocacy Task Force
Advocating for our business and community by building relationships with elected officials and government organizations to advocate for the community. We enhance the area’s existing natural and civic resources and strive to improve the quality of life.
In 2024, the group held a legislative reception at the Pine Mountain Continental Cup tournament with 60 attendees, visited legislators and department leaders in Lansing, co-hosted a roundtable discussion on the changes to paid sick leave, wage laws, and exempt salary threshold with the small business retention and growth task force, and hosted a tour of the Ford Airport for elected officials, city managers, and board members.
Infrastructure & Housing Development Task Force
Improving access to infrastructure data and encouraging new development opportunities by engaging with regional and state government organizations to develop plans for improved infrastructure and housing development.
In 2024, this task force worked with local and state officials on the City of Kingsford’s water main and service line replacement project in the Kingsford Heights neighborhood, MDOT’s reconstruction project of Carpenter Avenue from Hamilton Avenue to Woodward Avenue, the City of Iron Mountain’s Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Grant to identify lead-contaminated water lines, and identifying lead-containing water service lines in the City of Norway and Breitung Township. It also leads advocacy efforts for new housing development tools, including the MSHDA Mi Neighborhood Program, MEDC Developer Tools, Tax Increment Financing, and the Build U.P. fund through InvestUP.
Talent Retention & Attraction Task Force
Recruit, retain, and grow the talent needed to support our employers’ workforce needs by raising awareness of career paths through local school districts, the DIISD Tech Center, and Bay College Iron Mountain Campus to grow the talent pipeline for investor businesses.
In 2024, this group released the Career & Technical Education magazine highlighting career paths and educational options for students to gain the skills and knowledge to be successful right out of high school; recognized area seniors pursuing a skilled trades career through the CTE Graduate Recognition Program; hosted 300 ninth-grade students for Manufacturing Day at Bay College Iron Mountain Campus to experience the hands-on skills needed by our local manufacturers; and planned the inaugural Healthcare Career Day for February 2025 for area tenth-grade students to experience hands-on health care careers needed by our local health care employers.
Small Business Retention & Growth Task Force
Promoting and acknowledging the value of businesses in our community by advocating for our small business community, promoting them through awareness programs, and providing training sessions to help them navigate the challenges they face.
In 2024, this group hosted a Small Business HR Panel to address hiring concerns with the small business community, co-hosted educational webinars with SBDC and the Dickinson Chamber, and raised awareness of the new Central UP Small Business Support Hub navigator. This group also oversees the Loyal to Local program. The seventh year of the Loyal 2 Local program had more than 80 participants. The program sponsored the Entrepreneur of the Year for Lemonade Day and Out to Lunch. It also enhanced its business directory and launched a new blog and newsletter.
All of this is possible thanks to 96 individual volunteers who share their time and talent to help us advance our mission through an estimated 795 volunteer hours.
“These numbers are significant in that they demonstrate the enthusiasm and commitment to the continued economic progress we see in the Dickinson Area,” said Mindy Meyers, executive director of The Alliance.
As we look forward to the rest of 2025 and beyond, our priority areas of focus are:
— Increasing awareness of potential housing solutions through state programs to encourage new development,
–Raising awareness of land bank and Brownfield opportunities for developers,
–Working with our local schools to raise awareness of career opportunities in our region,
— Providing our small businesses with educational opportunities,
— Raising awareness of the quality of life through our Belong initiative,
— Raising awareness of outdoor recreation improvements.
The Alliance is governed by a board of directors comprised of individuals from our investor businesses. Each board member sits on at least one task force group to share their areas of expertise.
For more information on how to become involved with The Alliance, go to daeda.org.